Boerum Hill Kitchen Reno
A reader writes in…The original kitchen consisted of a lime green theme complete with torn formica and beaten up cabinets dating from the early 60’s. It is located on the parlor floor of a 4-story Boerum Hill brownstone in a 6×20 extension at the rear. It was very narrow and both the floor and ceiling…
A reader writes in…The original kitchen consisted of a lime green theme complete with torn formica and beaten up cabinets dating from the early 60’s. It is located on the parlor floor of a 4-story Boerum Hill brownstone in a 6×20 extension at the rear. It was very narrow and both the floor and ceiling suffered from rotten beams and leaned on a 6″ incline. When we started into the renovation, we were quite naïve. We had no architect or designer and decided we’d learn as we went along. We felt any money we had was better spent on the house.
We started by totally gutting the old kitchen, new beams for the floor and ceiling. We added a large picture window to bring in light and copied the surrounding wood molding from elsewhere in the house. In the new kitchen we put down a slate floor, with suntouch radiant heat underneath. So far that’s worked well in all the kitchens and bathrooms in the house at a reasonable price.
The cabinets are from Lowes, nothing special but solid cherry fronts which we wanted. The appliances are all GE Monogram which have turned out to be very reliable so far. Not the cheapest but not Viking or Wolfe either. Like Brownstoner, we felt significant investment in cabinets was a waste as we someday hope to expand the kitchen.
Our favorite part of the kitchen is the stainless steel tile backsplash. The tiles proved to be very expensive from Lowes or Home Depot but we found a place on the web that gave us a much better price. It still wasn’t too cheap but we really like the finished effect when the under counter lights are turned on.
Fair point Che and I think the owner has taken plenty of criticism, quite well. So, why does everyone hate architects? Since you’ve offered up such a glib sweeping question to the crowd, I’ll just have to answer. For simple DIY renos, its a luxury that not everybody can afford. Architectural purity & perfection is sacrificed for hard earned dollars. Most of us feel that the return on investment for a small project such as a kitchen reno just isnt there when it comes to architectural advice. Finally, most architects overcharge and add limited value to a small project beyond stating the obvious. Not for me. Sorry
The owner is a grown up and posted his kitchen on the world wide web – any criticism is valid. There are hundreds of materials, tiles, stones, cabinet finishes – why use a standard developers package of cherry wood and 4×4 stainless steel tiles? Dark and cold – colorful food would seem foreign in this setting. A partial lack of imagination and amatuerish. The corner sink is functionally awkward, you have to turn around to load the dishwasher and the door swings for the appliances interfere with each other. And why does everyone hate architects? Shouldn’t one approach a home reno with foresight and experience? Gotta spend a little to get the result. Sorry.
SoHo Modern – Interior Renovations + Home Furnishings
I wanted to let all brooklynites know about SoHo Modern which provides interior renovations and home furnishings in Brooklyn.
http://www.sohomodern.com
It would have been far more then $15.00.
It wasnt a cheap promo plug. It was a free one.
SoHoAppliances,
Saving someone 15 bucks on Viking appliances isn’t saving anybody any money.
What a cheap promo plug.
Sorry guys but I gotta do this (its better then posting mean comments).
Call Levi for the lowest prices on all kitchen appliances. 718.725.7285. You can also vist me online at SoHoAppliances.com.
I wonder how much money I could have saved the “cobble hill kitchen”
how do you keep your kitchen so clean? it’s beautiful!
To NewStoner & cobble hill – thanks for your kind words and encouragement. The kitchen is far from perfect and we’re (clearly) not experts but we are very happy with the end result.
Hopefully the post will help others embarking on their own DIY kitchen projects.
PS. we’re hoping to invite Al the architect, the artisan, some lute playing minstrels and maybe even some courtesans to join us for dinner served on grandma’s “oakey” table. We plan to have enough flagons of mead to make everybody merry so I’m sure they’ll all write nicer comments going forward
“Strange to think that hiring one would constitute elitism.”
well, this is a bit of a strawman, isn’t it?
no one objected to the fact the person hired a local cabinetmaker. the objection was to the haughty, condescending tone in which that information was delivered.